Police Chief Norwood resigns

After months of speculation regarding his ouster, it was announced today that Norwood will leave the Richmond Police.

January 31, 2013; 11:29 AM • by Nathan Cushing

Update #4 — February 12, 2013; 11:31 AM

Mayor Jones announced today that Police Chief Bryan Norwood had tendered his resignation after serving since 2008.

“We’ve reached a mutual agreement that his time as Richmond Police Chief has come to an end,” Jones said. “We certainly wish Chief Norwood much luck in his endeavors going forward.”

Last week, Los Angeles prosecutors associated the Richmond Police with improper record keeping of singer Chris Brown’s area community service.

— ∮∮∮ —

Update #3 — January 31, 2013; 1:51 PM

“Cassandra Deck-Brown is an excellent choice to be the next Chief of Police for the city of Raleigh,” Richmond Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood said in a statement. “I wish her all the best as she leads that impressive agency into the future.”

— ∮∮∮ —

Update #2 — January 31, 2013; 11:29 AM

Richmond Police Chief Bryan Norwood will remain in Richmond as he was not named police chief in Raleigh, NC.

Norwood was one of three finalists considered for the Raleigh position (see below). But Raleigh Police officials announced today that Cassandra Deck-Brown, who had been serving as Raleigh’s interim police chief, would be given the position.

— ∮∮∮ —

Update #1 – January 10th, 12:10 PM

Today, Richmond Police officials are not publicly commenting on the news that Police Chief Bryan Norwood is one of three finalists considered for the police chief vacancy in Raleigh, North Carolina (see below).

I spoke with J. Russell Allen, Raleigh’s City Manager, and the sole person in charge of selecting Raleigh’s next police chief.

Of the 48 who applied to the position when the formal search began in Fall 2012, Allen said “we narrowed that list down…to about 15.” The list was further winnowed to about six, from which the three finalists derive:

Malik Aziz, police chief of Dallas, Texas
Cassandra Deck-Brown, interim police chief of Raleigh, North Carolina
Bryan Norwood, police chief of Richmond, Virginia

On the morning of January 24th, the three finalists will appear in Raleigh and take turns answering Allen’s questions among an audience of Raleigh Police officials. Later that evening, the finalists will answer questions in a televised public forum.

Allen hopes to make his decision by early February. Should Norwood be selected, Allen said the Richmond Police Chief would have to negotiate the departure date from his current job with Richmond City officials, a date that Allen said is difficult to predict, but would likely come 30-45 days after the announcement.

— ∮∮∮ —

Original – January 10th

This morning, several outlets reported that Richmond Police Chief Bryan Norwood is one of three finalists to take on the same position in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Norwood became Richmond’s police chief in 2008. A year later, the city saw a 4 percent increase in major crime (including violent and property crimes). The city’s crime rate maintained until 2011, when violent crime declined five percent, the lowest rate in Richmond since 1970.

However, murders climbed to 42 in 2012, the most in Richmond since 2007, prompting some to ponder if Mayor Dwight Jones would oust the police chief. The Mayor may not have to after all.

Norwood is expected to appear at a public forum in Raleigh later this month to answer questions by that city’s manager.